Machine for injection molding articles



June 13, 1950 o. FIRING momma FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12. 1946 A 7'7'OPNEY June 13, 1950 o. FIRING 2,511,402

MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES FiledDec. 12,1946 9 Sheets-SheetZ ..Q @lgr''. 2. L3

: INVENTOR,

OSBORNE FIR/N6 BYWK June 13, 1950 o. FIRING 2,511,402

. MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES Filed Dec. 12-, 1946 9 sheets-sheats INVENTOR. OSBORNE FIR/N6 O. FIRING MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES June 13, 1950 9 SheetS -Sh'eet 4 Filed Dec. l2; 1946 INVENTOR. OSBORNE F/E/NG QQ W 4T7 [QNEY 3 k 1 Q i tal K q W X s R %Wmw W g wyws 3 p u 0. FIRING MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES June 13, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 12, 1946 INVENTOR. OSBORNE F/ RING BY? 477' ENE) June 13, 1950 Q, FlRlNG 2,511,402 MACHINE FOR INJECTION udw ug ARTQIECLES Filed Dec. 12, 1945 Sheets-Sliee't INVENTOR. OSBORNE F/ RING $472 202 477' ,Q/VE) June 13, 1950 o. FIRING 7 2,511,402

MACHINEFOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES Filed Dec. 12, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN TOR. vO5 BORNE F/ RING 447 70 NEY June 13, 1950 o. FIRING 2,511,402

MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR- OSBOENE FIR/1V6 14 T'TOENEY June 13, 1950 o. FIRING 2,511,402

MACHINE FOR INJECTION MOLDING ARTICLES' Filed Dec. 12, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I \WMIMM WWW H" INVENTOR.

OSEORNE F/R/NG Patented June 13, 1950 MAGHINE=FORTNJECTION MOLDING ARTICBES Osb r F ing. New rg, ,N; Y ass anen tic Talon, Inc,,'a,oorporatioii qfj 'enns'yl vani a,

ApplicatiomDecemben 12, 1-94 6=,:Scrial-Nm 715,759

3, invention. relates to amaehine or me d: meal-use i clo el spac dlart les on w en and s des eneddn rtl u arl for melding. nte lock n ia tener e ement of hite a ten rs of th type consis n oi afl x h eo a e r me ntnc-mem er hav ng. a lur ty, of spa eslinte ocking astene elem nts secure/ hereto and adapted to LQQQIIQQK with, the elements of an QEQQSQG. tring r b he m v me of a S i therealoha, Sus i as ner a i common se and. kno eene all rap r m c ine of the 78.561 nti Re tie lar radap able or h ma uf re f sm l ert clessu has as ner elem ,v di ec l o a tenso mo ntin memb r by. injection mold ng. While, metals, having a relatively low melting point used in such molding, I prefer to u eenenrme a lic plastic mater a s, eit er o t thenmoplastic or thermosetting typej HQI'etQ- fore, the molding of small articles, such as fast ner elements rom a pl stic m terial as Ta Emb em nd neconomic be a se of he ne ssary time, element involved in th mdldihg of ach. a tic or fa en r e ement n njection molding operation, it is a well-known, fact that a definitetimecycle is required, the length offwhich is, determined ,by the viscosity andftype i mo in material, t e rat of, heat d sipat 'tio i r m the die. and them d ins. p ssure mployed, When one fastener element is, molded ata time, the rate of production of a finished fastener stringer, due to the. long molding cycle required for each fastener element, solow as to be impractical and expensive.

Various machines and apparatus have been heretofore suggested for practicing such injection molding, such as the molding 0f fastener elements directly onto a tape or mounting memher, In most of these machines or apparatus each fastener element is molded on the tape between a pair of die members which receive the molding material occurred in the nozzle bet-ween injection periods.

In the present invention there is provided a machine for molding fastener elements directly onto the tape or mounting memberv wherein no additional processing is required for providing a finished fastener stringer after the stringer '2 moldi g; and, at h sam n w h r pro id d: a iclatlte .lonetznp eins cyc e for. eac fastene v.n msa s; automat 5 to-pr vide a rela i ely high 4 1 d, astener. ri gerst. i he present nlcan .d 1nd heperip iery with an a m mbcr .enQirQl igLthe rota. le-m mbeatQ -fl se th. m ld ca i e with a, flexib e eilel-t semem cr enc tc ng he annula memb r so tcma'nainlthe same-at a l. ime inv res ure, con act wi h the panthe -5, oi th rctatablememhcr threush tt su stant al y c rntial. dist imether o so as o rovid .a-relatir iy nscmo'l linscrcleior achi aste e ement 25, it i another objec of, he inten ion to. pro.-

ide an. mprov machine. 101" con inu usly nio dma' asteher,elemen on s ars o a ble which hemo bl ng ateri li sun da n an'tl oe nozzle unde pressure, with. the saw iotthe mater al ow he diet ein cont o led b it e movementjq he the mem ers r la, we. to. hecno -t "It isa furtli ohiect of, c hi inve t t trov lie. an mprc, id. mach n tor ont ously 35,, m lflinsi stene r eis.. i en s on ap which may "he. adap tQ. pr d Q a su c sion i a ten stri gers O fdQ Qi.1 13%fihYW1 he esi d sap spacetherehetween wherein, any danger of the molding material freezing in the nozzle is eliminated.

It still' another-object of the invention-t0 "provide an; improved machine for continuously mdldingiastenr -elements-- on-"a tape in which *the" section ofdie'members in t he' vicinity cf the mold cavities -is heated constantly so as to eliminate any danger of the molding materialbeing frozen in-the'passageways leading-to the mold cavities; Y *Various other objects and advantages cfthis invention-will lave-mere apparent-inthecourse of the fol-lowingspecification; and will be particularlypointeo't out in-the appended claims} In the accompanying drawings, thereis shown for the purpose"bfi illustration, one-embodiment Y which my invention mayi assume inpractice,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectionalview through the extruding means and nozzle;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a section of the drum, annular member, and flexible member, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, partly in section, to show the mold cavities;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9- -9 of Fig. and

Fig. is a sectional view of the drum and the end of the nozzle with the annular and flexible members removed, showing how the fastener members are molded in the mold cavities.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved machine of my invention comprises a base 2 having a pair of spaced-apart upwardly extending bracket portions 3 and 4 in the upper ends of which there is positioned suitable bearings 5 in which there is rotatably mounted a rotatable hollow shaft 6. There is mounted on one end of this shaft, a circular or drum-like member 1 having a plurality of spaced-apart mold cavities 3 arranged around the periphery thereof adjacent one edge of the same. Each of these mold cavities conforms to the shape of one half of a fastener element of any desired design. There is also arranged in the periphery of the drum 1 adjacent one side thereof, a plurality of semi-circular shaped grooves 9a. with one communicating with each of the mold cavities 8 and opening into the side of the drum.

There is disposed around the drum-like memher I, an annular member If) having a plurality ,of spaced-apart mold cavities 8a arranged around ,Complete mold cavity in a manner hereinafter to be described. It will be understood that each of the mold cavities 8a conforms to the other half of the fastener element. There is arranged around the inner periphery of the annular member l0 adjacent one side thereof, a plurality of semi-circular shaped grooves 9b similar to the feed passageways 9a in the circular member I with one communicating with each of the mold cavities 8a and which cooperate with the grooves 9a to provide circular passageways 9 for delivering the moldable material to the mold cavities. The annular member In is so constructed and arranged that the inner periphery thereof is in contact with the outer periphery of the drum-like member I substantially throughout 180 degrees of rotation of both of these members with the I mold cavities 8 in the drum 1 cooperating with 7 plete passages 9 are formed by the cooperation of the semi-circular grooves 9a in the drum 1 and the semi-circular grooves 9b in the annular member In, which passages 9 open through the side walls of the drum 1 and annular member It], as more clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings. The outer side wall of the circular member 1 is tapered inwardly, as at H, from the aligned row of passages 9 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

A *There is arranged around the inner periphery of the annular member ID centrally thereof, a key-like flange portion 12 which cooperates with a similarly shaped slot l3 arranged around the outer periphery of the drum-like member 1, which flange portion and slot cooperate with each other and act as a keyway and slot for preventing any lateral movement of the annular member ID relative to the drum 1. There is also arranged around the inner periphery of the annular member In adjacent the outer side thereof, a plurality of gear teeth l4 so as to provide an internal gear, which gear teeth mesh with a series of similar gear teeth I5 arranged around the outer periphery of the drum 1 at the outer side thereof. It is the purpose of the gear teeth It and Hi to drive the annular member ID upon rotation of the annular member I, and to insure that the complementary mold cavities 8 and 8a are properly in register with each other so as to provide complete and uniform mold cavities.

There is disposed around the outer periphery of the annular member ID, a flexible band-like member it which contacts the annular member substantially throughout degrees. The band member is also disposed over and around an idle pulley I! which is securely mounted on the end of a shaft l8. The shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings l9 and 20 carried by adjustable bracket members 2| and 22, respectively. The bracket member 2| is movably connected to a pair of parallel threaded stud members 23 which extend between the base 2 and a sub-base 2a, and the bracket member 22 is likewise connected to a pair of similar spaced-apart parallel threaded stud members 24 which also extend between the base 2 and the sub-base 211. There is arranged on each of the threaded stud members 23 to either side of the bracket member 2|, an adjusting nut 25 and on each of the threaded stud members 24 to either side of the bracket 22, there is arranged a similar adjusting nut 26. It is the purpose of the nuts 25 and 26 to adjust the position of the brackets 2| and 22 along the respective stud-like members 23 and 24 so as to adjust the tension in the flexible member I6.

Directly below the shaft 6 and parallel thereto, there is rotatably arranged in the brackets 3 and 4, a drive shaft 21' on one end of which there is securely arranged a gear 28 which is disposed within the drum member 1 and meshes with a series of gear teeth 29 arranged around the inner periphery thereof so as to provide an internal gear arrangement. On the opposite end of the shaft 21, there is securely arranged preferably a sprocket 30 over and around which a chain 3| is disposed which is connected to the shaft of a motor or other suitable source of power (not shown) for driving the same. It will be seen that as the shaft 21 is rotated, the drum member I, together with the annular member If] and the flexible member It, will be driven through the action of the gear .28, internal gear 29, and the gear teeth [4 and I5 carried by the drum 1 and annular member Ill, respectively, and that the flexible member [6 will be driven in turn by the annular member In due to its frictional contact therewith.

l here-is arranged around the siiaft :21 .aiid' for free rotatable movement relative thereto, a sleeve-like member 32 to which there is attached a pair or" s'paced apar't bracket members 33. There is mounted on :each of the i bracket .members 33, another bracket member 34 on top of which there is mounted amoldable material injection-means 35 which is adapted .to-supply the moldable material to the moldcavities in a manner to be described. The member 35, .as .mor'e clearly shown in Fig. --7 ot the drawings, consists 'ofa rectangular-shaped body member 36 having an axial bore 3! which is preferably lined with 'a' tubular member38 :of a wear-resisting material. Thereis arranged within the bore 31 and the tubular lining member .38,.zan :elongated :rotatatableieed screw ==39 which extends substantially throughout the length of the body member. On one end of -thebo'dy :member there is arranged in the-end of the bore :31, an injection nozzle di] through which the-material .is forced by "means f the screw 39 -intoathe .mold cavities 8 and-"8a, as will-be later explained. The nozzle is preferably screwed into a collar 4001. which is se'cured-to the end of the body member 36 by means of the screws 4%. :At the opposite end of the :body member, the screw 39 terminates in :a shaft portion M to which there is keyed a relatively large gear 42 which meshes with a gear 43 arrangedon the outer endofthe drive shaft 21. 'Whenthe drive :shaft I2! is driven, it will .be seen that the screw 39 is rotated by means of thegears 42 and 43 thereby moving thematerial through thebore 3 of the body member 36 towards the nozzle All. There is arranged in the upper wall of the body member 36, an opening 44 through which the moldable material is fed into the bore 3'. around the screw 39 arranged therein. At the extreme end of the screw 39, there is arranged in the lower Wall'of the body member 36, an opening 45 for delivering the moldable material from the bore by reversing the driving action of the'screw 39 when it is desired to empty the bore-37 of any excess'moldable material after any particular molding operation so that it will not solidify therein. There is also arranged in the body member 36 and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements 45, four in the present instance, for

the purpose of heating the .bodytmember 35 which "in turn heats the moldable material disposed in the bore 3! of the body member.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, there is'a'iso securely attached to'the sleeve-like member a downwardly extending lever 41 to the lower end of which there is pivotally attached,

- as' at as, the inner end of arelatively heavy coil spring 48. There is pivotally mounted on the side of the bracket 3, a hook-like latch member 55 to lock the member 35 in its .inoperative'p'osition ina manner to be described. There is arranged in a hole'in-the latch member 50, a 'compression' coil spring which acts against a pin '52 arranged in the hole with the end of thepin abutting against a shoulder .53 carried by the side of the bracket 3 to maintain the latch in its forwardmost position so as to engage the roller 49 when the roller ismovedto position'to engage the same. V

Thereis also arranged on the base 2, astud shaft '54 which is rotatabl'y mounted in an arcuate-shapedextension 55 of the bracket 3 and a bracket portion 55 on the base '2 forwardly thereof. On the inner end of shaft '54, thereis 6 which the outer endsofthe :coi1: spring. 48 1s pivf otally attached, as 18,13 13. There also arranged on the shaft SLdirectly next to the: crank- 51,52. =cammember 58 whichds freely rotatable relative i thereto andthereis attachedto thisicam aileverlike handle 7 member .59 for manually positioning the cam 158 ma manner-.andfor a purpose-later to be described. The .cam 58 cooperates with acam follower in-the form of a roller 85...positioned on the lower end of the .lever :41 ,next -to theinner end of the spring .48. There is rarrangediin the arcuate-Ishaped extension .55, -.two rows -01" spaced-apart holes 68 with the .holesin one row beingtstaggeredrelative to the holesein the other'row. There is adapted to beselectiye'ly arranged in any one oftheseholes,.a.pinmember 51 which cooperates with the lower side of: the lever arm5tior a pu'rposeandina manner hereinafter to :be explained. There is arranged-at the top :of .this extension,:a stop in theformv of 'a spin 12,.forlimitingthe upwardmovement-of the ha'nd-le .59. There is secured tothe oppositeend of the shaft :54 forwardly -.of the base 12, 11a manpally-operated lever-like handle member :62 "for the :purpose of rotating the shaft 54 to move the member 35 to and from itsoperative position when desired due to the :action of the lever .51, --the'- spring 48, and the-lever'fl'l. As .more clearly shown in Fig. .6, intermediate the length of :the

shaft .54, there is arranged thereon a collar-like member .63 having awguide :groove 54 arranged around the periphery thereof in which the efiexible band t6 isdisposed and whichis adapted to-guide the band in its travel. The collar-like member S3 is adjustable along the shaft '54 by means of :.=.pair of nuts 66 with one positioned at each end of this member with the nuts cooperating Withca threaded. portion of theshaft 54.

There is positioned around the drum-like .:member I ata :point adjacent-the .mold cavities 9 therein, asseries .of vspaced-apartresistance heating elements =51-for the purpose of maintaining -the..periphery of the drum 1 together with the rm old'cavities and passages therein at'a'uniform temperature. These elements 6'! are'heated byra-pairofcircularwires 58 arranged around the 1162,66 of the drum which are connected by mefans of wires 'ds 'to collector rings l0 secured'to'the shaft with the wires "69 passing into and through the-end of the'shait 6 to the collector rings '10 which 'are positioned intermediate the len'gth'sthereof. These collector rings cooperate with brushes (not shown) which are connected 1105 a suitable source of electrical :power.

The-operation of my machine will now 'be described. Thecarrier'or'flexible tape T-on'which --.the articles orfastener elements are to be molded, J's-positioned in-the'machine between the drum 1 =:and the :annu'iar'member it] with the'bead'ofthe taperpositioned-inthemold cavities 8 and 8a with a -space therearound. The tape passes fromthe sourceaof supply around a'guide roller I4, around .theLpe'riphery' of the drum 1, and out arounda rolleriguide member 15. "The idle. roller I1 is lfir'stadjusted by means of the adjusting nuts 25 and 'zeion the studs 2'3 and 24, respectively, so "that the fl'exible 'band :member 1'5 is under the proper tension. It will be understood that'this band mates It bears against the outer side of th'e 'anhular inember 'ili sothat the annularinemher is fo'r-ced against the outer periphery of 1 the drum -'l with theproper pressuredurihg' the moldingope'ration. v

mile assum ed thatthe injection meah's 35 Securely arranged "a drainZli-"lik -inembr 51 275 isfihdt's 'I'I'iOIding "positinii,' 'ainrl indsueh psitin,

-to stop the flow of material from the nozzle when the same is out of register with the passages 9. The machine is then set in operation, and it will .be seen as the drum 7 is rotated through the action of the sprocket 30, the shaft 21, the gear 28, and the internal gear 29 of the drum that the annular member It in turn will be rotated due to the action of the gear teeth l4 and I5, and that the flexible band member l6 which contacts the outer periphery of the annular member In will be driven frictionally thereby. The shaft 21 also drives the feed screw 39 through the action of the gears 42 and 43. When the nozzle is in its injection position, it will be understood that the spring member 48 is under tension and maintains the cam roller 65 against the cam 58. It is this cam that positions the nozzle 40 in alignment with the passages 9. When the lever 59 which is connected to this cam 58 is in its uppermost position against the stop pin 12, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6, it will be understood that the high point of the cam 58 is in contact with the roller 55, thereby positioning the nozzle in registry alignment with the passages 9.

The moldable material M, such as styrene, 1

nylon or some other suitable thremosetting material is then delivered from a hopper or some other suitable means into the bore 31 of the body a member 36 of the injection means through the opening 44 therein, as shown in Fig. 7. As the screw 39 rotates, the moldable material is carried through the bore and forced under pressure through the nozzle to into the mold cavities 8 and 8a by means of this screw 39. It will be seen that the moldable material is forced into the cavities 8 and 8a in the space around the beaded edge of the tape, so that the material is securely molded therearound. After the moldable material has been injected through the passage 9 leading to one series of molds to form an article or fastener element E, the nozzle is brought into register with the next successive passage 9 leading to the next set of mold cavities due to the fact that the drum member I and the annular member H] are continuously in rotation. It, of 1 course, will be understood that the drum I and the annular member l9 rotate in timed relation to the feeding of the material through the nozzle 40 by the screw 39 so that a sufiicient amount of "material is delivered to each of the mold cavities as the drum and annular member rotate.

The molding of the elements on the tape is continued as above described until the desired number of elements E are molded to the edge of the tape to provide the desired length of fastener stringer S. At this point, the cam member 58 is manipulated by means of the handle 59 as to move the cam in a counter-clockwisedl rection, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Such movement of the cam 58 brings a low point of the cam in contact with the roller 55 thereby permitting the injection means to move inwardly toward the center of the drum 1 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 5, due to the action of the spring 58 which is connected to the lower end of the lever 41, thus, rotating the sleeve member 32 relative to the shaft 27 which in turn moves the brackets 33 and 34, together with the injectionmeans 35, in a clockwise direction. On such movement of the injectio means, it will be seen that the bore of the nozzle 46 is moved out ofalignment with the series of passages 9 to position opposite the tapered surface H around the inner face of the drum member 7. With the nozzle in such position, it will be seen that a space provided on the inner side of the bore of the nozzle 43 between the end of the same and the tapered surface H thereby permitting bleeding of the moldable material from the nozzle and the bore of the injection means so that the material will not solidify in either the nozzle or the injection means. After the desired gap space is provided along the tape, the cam member is again rotated about the shaft 5:3 so as to again bring the high point of the cam in contact with the roller 55, at which time, the bore of the nozzle 45 is again positioned in alignment with the passages 9 for continuing the injection molding of fastener elements along the tape, as hereinbefore described.

The two rows of holes in the extension are provided for selectively placing a pin 5| therein which acts as a stop for the handle 59 when the cam 58 is rotated to position for the above de scribed bleeding operation. That is, the handle is moved downwardly against the pin which positions the nozzle for bleeding. The distance the nozzle is moved out of alignment with the passages 9 and along the tapered surface 1 I, and, of course, the position of the pin 55 depends upon the temperature of the mold cavities, the speed of molding, and the characteristics of the material being molded.

After the molding operation, the injection molding means 35 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the nozzle moves out of contact with the side of the drum 7 and the annular member 59 to its retracted position, by means of the handle 52 which rotates the shaft 54 which in turn rotates the lever 5'! thereby unloading the spring 48 and permitting I engages the latch 59 so as to hold the injection means 35 in its retracted position.

If it is desired to remove the moldable material from the bore 31 of the body member 35, the screw 39 is rotated in a reverse direction with .1 the moldable material passing outwardly down through the opening 35 in the bottom of the body member 36. The nozzle 41! can then be taken off and cleaned by removing the screw 43 and collar As a result of my invention it will be seen that there is provided an injection molding machine which is not only simple and inexpensive in its construction but efficient and efiective in its use so as to produce fastener stringers continuously at a minimum cost without the use of expensive molds and cores. 75.-

While I have shown and described an embodi- '9 ment,- which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this-embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within-the scope of invention as defined in theappendedi-claims.

What I olaimiaslmy inventionis:

1:. A machine for injection molding fastener elements directlyonto-a flexible mounting member comprising ,a rotatable drum having a series of spacedeapart mold cavities formed in and around the periphery thereof, a rotatable annular member having an inner, diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said drum disposed therearound-so as to encircle the same withthe inner per-ipheryof- 'saidannular member contactingthe outer eripherycf said drum for a substantial circumferential distance, said annular member having aseries-of spaced-apart complementary -mold cavities formed in and around the inner-periphery thereof which register with the mold cavities in the outer periphery of'said drum, the mounting member adapted to be disposed between said drum and said annular member-in the vicinity that said annular member contacts said drum, a flexible endless bandencircl-ingsaid annular member and said drum and contacting the outer periphery of the former in the vicinity-that said annular member contacts said drum, said flexible band adapted to maintain said annular member-in pressure contact "the outer-periphery of: said drum, and means for introducing a moldablea material into the-mold cavities in the vicinity of contact'of said annular m ember with; saiddrum.

2. A machine for injection-molding fastener elements directlycntda flexiblemounting. member, as cleflned'in claim 1', whereinthemeans for introducing a moldable material into the mold cavities includes-aseries of spaced-apart passageways arranged inztheside wall of the drum adjacent the peripherythereof with each passageway communicating with-one-of the mold cavities, anda nozzle arranged .on the same side of said drum. assaid passagewaysconnected to a source of molding material supply under pressure, the-open GIIdFQf said nozzle contacting the side wall of said drum so that the material is forced into said mold cavities H successively when "said nozzle is in registry with saidpassageways.

3. A machineford-niection molding fastener elements directly onto a flexible mounting memher, as defined inclaim 1, wherein the means for introducing the, moldable material into the mold cavities includes-a series; of spaced-apart passageways arranged in:- the-side wall of the drum adjacent the peripher-y'thereof with each passageway communicating with one-of the mold cavities and being arranged in alignment concentricwith the axis of said drum, and a nozzle arranged on the same side of said drum as-said passageways connectedto a source of molding material supply u nder press'ure with theopen end of said nozzle contacting the side wall of said drum, said drum-being rotatable relative to said nozzle to bring said passageways successively into orout of registry with said nozzle whereby the mold cavities are -filled-during registr of said passageways with said nozzle and cut off from the injectionpressure by that portion ofthesidezwall of said drum between said passageways when out of registry with said nozzle.

4. A machine ferinjection molding fastener element directly ontofa flexible mounting: member comprising a. rotatableldrum, having aseries 0f spaced-apart mold cavities formed in and around the periphery thereof, a rotatable annular member having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said drum disposed therearound so as to encircle the same with the inner periphery of said annular member contacting the outer periphery of said drum for a distance of approximately degrees, said annular member having a series of spaced-apart complementary .mold cavities formed in and around the inner periphery thereof which register with the mold cavities in the outer periphery of said drum, a flexible. endless band encircling said annular member and said drum and contactingthe outer periphery thereof for a distance of approximatelyl-SO degrees in the vicinity that said annular member contacts said drum, said flexible band adapted to maintain said annular member securelyin pressure contact With'the outer periphery of saiddrum, a mounting member .guideway arranged around the periphery of .saiddrum with said annular member adapted to embrace the mounting member and to hold it securely in position between the same and said drum, and means forintroducing a molding material into the mold cavities in the vicinity of contact of said annular member with said drum.

.5. A machine for injection molding fastener elements directly onto a flexibleumounting memher, as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for introducing the molding material into the mold cavities consists of a nozzle arranged to one side of the drum connected to a sourceof amolding material supply with the open end of said nozzle contacting. the side wall of said drum, which nozzle is adapted to register with a series of passageways opening into the side wall of said drum which communicate with the mold cavities, said nozzle being positioned at -a point in the vicinity that said annular member initially contacts-the outer periphery of said drum in its rotatable travel.

6 A machine for injection molding fastener elements directly onto-amounting member comprising a rotatable drum having a series of spaced-apart mold cavities. formed in and around the periphery thereof, a rotatable annular member having. aninner diameter substantially larg- -er than the outer :diameter of said drum disposed therearound so as to encircle the same with the inner periphery of said annular'member contacting thelouter periphery of said drum for a substantial circumferential distance, said annular member having a series of spaced-apart complementary mold cavities formed in and around the inner periphery thereof which register with theinold cavities in the outer periphery of said drum, said annular memberhaving a series of gear teetharranged around the inner periphery thereof which mesh with a series of corresponding gear teeth arranged around the outer periphery ofsaid drumso as to insure that the moldcavities'of saidannular member and said drum are in register, said drum upon rotation' adapted to drive said annular member through the action of said gear teeth, said annular member adapted to embrace the mounting member in thevicinity that the annular member contacts said drum, a flexible endless band encircling said annular member and said drum and contacting the outer periphery of the former in the vicinity that said annular member contacts said drum, and means for introducing a molding material. into saidimold, cavities. in the vicinity of contact of said-annular member. with said drum 7 dfiiiiiim? b is d m amend a rliner inemher,

V 7 .,A,mac hine for, injection molding fastener elements directly onto a mounting member, as defined in claimfi, wherein the meansfor introducing themolding material into themold cavi-, ties consists of, a, nozzle arranged to one side of saiddrum connected to a source of molding material ,supply with the open end of said nozzle contactingthe sidewall of said drum, which lnezzle i adapted to register with a series of aligned passageways opening into the side wall of said drmnwhich communicate with the mold jcavities, said molding material being under pres- 's n'e andiadapted to flow automatically into the mold cavitiessuccessively as the drum and annu- .13 mem r r a a V.

a 8. A. machine for injection molding fastener elements directly onto a flexible mounting member comprising a rotatable circular member having a series of spac edapart mold cavities formed in andaround the periphery thereof, a rotatable member encircling said circular member and contacting a portion of the outer periphery of "said circular member and in pressure contact therewith which acts as one wall for said mold cavities and which is adapted to embrace the mounting member between said means and said circular member, means for delivering and guiding a mounting. member between said circular member and said rotatable member at the point of contacttherebetween, a separate passageway for each mold cavity opening through the side wall of said circular member with the openings for all of said passageways being spaced apart and in alignment with each other, means for injecting moldable material into said cavities including a nozzle arranged to one side of andin contact with the side wallrof said circular member at a point adjacent the contact of said circular member with said rotatable member, said circular member adapted to be rotated so as to bring said openings in turn into registry with 'said nozzle, the molding material adapted to be under pressure and to flow automatically into encircling both said rotatable member. and said circular member and contacting the outer periphery of the former in the vicinity that said rotatable member contacts said circular member,

said annular means adapted to maintain said rotatable member in pressure contact with the outer periphery of said circular member.

9. A machine for injection molding fastener elements directly onto a flexible mounting member comprising a circular rotatable member having a series of spaced-apart mold cavities formed in and around the periphery thereof, a rotatable annular member having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said circular member and disposed therearound so as to encircle the same with the inner periphery of said annular member contacting the outer periphery .of said circular member for a substantial, circumferential distance, the inner periphery of said annularmember adapted to cooperate withthe outer periphery of said circular. member to close the mold cavities therein when saidmembers are in circumferential contact with each other, means for delivering and guiding a mounting fmember' between said cir-' cular member and said annular member at the point of contact therebetween a separate passageway for each mold cavity opening through the side wall of said circular member with the openings for all of said passageways being spaced apart and arranged in alignment cohcentrically around the side wall of said circular member, means for injecting moldable material into said cavities including a movable nozzle arranged to one side of and in contact with the side wall of said circular member at a point directly 013-: posite the openings o f said passageways therein, said circular memberadapt'ed to be rotated to bring said openings in turn into registry with said nozzle, the moldable material adapted to be under pressure and to flow automatically into said mold cavitieswith the outer surface of the side wall between said openings acting as a valve to prevent fiow of the moldable material from said nozzle when said openings are successively moved out of registry with said nozzle, and rotatable annular means encircling both said rotatable member and said circular member and contacting the outer periphery of the former in the vicinitv that said rotatable member contacts said circular member, said annular means adapted to maintain said rotatable member in pressure contact with the outer periphery of said circular member.

10. A machine for injection molding fastener elements, as defined in claim 9, wherein the side wall of the circular member is tapered inwardly thereof from a point adjacent the series of aligned openings in said side wall so as to permit bleeding of the moldable material from the nozzle when the same is moved inwardly toward the center of the circular member and out of alignment with said openings.

11. A machine for injection molding fastener elements, as defined in claim 9, including means for bleeding of the moldable material from the nozzle, and means for adjusting the amount of such bleeding depending upon the material being molded, and the consistency and temperature of such material.

12. A machine for injection molding fastener elements, as defined in claim 9, including means for heating the drum in the vicinity of the mold cavities therearound, so as to maintain the same at a predetermined temperature.

13. A machine for injection molding fastener elements, as defined in claim 9, wherein the nozzle is mounted on a pivotal member whereby the nozzle may be moved out of alignment with the series of openings in the side wall of the drum to one position to permit bleeding of the moldable material from the nozzle and to another retracted position when the nozzle is not in use, and means for moving said nozzle to either of said positions.

14. A machine for injection molding fastener elements directly onto a flexible mounting member comprising a rotatable drum having a series of spaced-apart mold cavities formed in and around the periphery thereof, a rotatable annular member having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said drum disposed therearound so as to encircle the same with the inner periphery of said annular member contacting the outer periphery of said drum for a substantial circumferential distance, said annular member having a series of spaced-apart complementary mold, cavities formed in and' around the inner periphery thereof which register with the mold cavities in the outer periphery of said drum, the mounting member adapted to be disposed between said drum and said annular member in the vicinity that said annular member contacts said drum, rotatable annular means positioned on the outer side of said annular member encircling the same so as to maintain said annular member in pressure contact with the outer periphery of said drum, and means for introducing a moldable material into the mold cavities in the vicinity of contact of said annular member with said drum.

15. A machine for injection molding fastener elements onto a flexible mounting member, as defined in claim 8, including means carried by the rotatable circular member adjacent the mold cavities therein for heating the periphery of the rotatable circular member in the vicinity of said mold cavities so as to maintain the same at a uniform temperature.

OSBORNE FIRING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 844,330 Cole Feb. 19, 1907 1,931,759 Hasing Oct. 24, 1933 2,197,968 De Mattia Apr. 23, 1940 2,230,785 Sundback Feb. 4, 1941 2,282,308 Dahlin May 12, 1942 2,402,805 Cousino June 25, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 201,079 Germany June 19, 1907 

